Venetian blind



. Nov. 11, 1 2 R. H. SWACKHAMER VENETIAN BLIND Filed April 2l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l /d/fl/ I INVENTOR. ROBERT H. SWACKHAMER HTTORNE! N 1952 R. H. SWACKHAMER 2,617,480

` VENETIAN BLIND Filed April 21, 1948 -5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1 ?7 5 ROBERT H. SWACKHAMER BY &4-

HTTORNEYS N 1952 R. H. SWACKHAMER &

I VENETIANBLIND Filed April 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet a F'i ,7 68 13196 g W 5152 I 4 IN V EN TOR.

ROBERT H SWACKHAMER I BY Nov. 11, 1952 Filed April 21, 1948 R. H. SWACKHAMER VENETIAN BLIND 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Roa 10 BY INVENTOR. ERT H. SwAcKHAMER ATTORNE'VS Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED ;STATES PATENT OFFICE "VENETIAN BLIND Robert H. Swackhamer, Oakland, Calif.

Application April 21,'1948, Serial No.` 22,411

, 11.01aims.

:My present invention relates to Venetian blinds or'the like.

travelwith corresponding pockets of each mem- 'ber being adapted to receive the spin'dles ofaa slat. Associated with the members are guide means -slidably-guiding the 'spindles When supporte'd`by -a pair of pockets and adjacent the upper part of 'the casing are means to enable .thespindles to be transferred into or out of the pockets above the guide means.

In practice, the members are a pairof spring woundbands each of which extends downwardly into "housing units attached to one side o'f the casing. The housing units have transversely alined mouths adjacent their upperends 'in thir exposed faces'towards which the pockets f'the bandsare disposed, transversely alined vertical slots in their opposed faces which are intersected by the band pockets, and transversely :alined downwardly and inwardly inclined slots interconnecting the mouths and 'the vertical slots. A 'transverse member sli'dably guided by the'vertical slots is connected to the ends 'of the bands to r maintain each pocket of one band transversely a'lined with a pocket of the other band. By this Construction, the spindles of a slat may enter a pair of transversely alined pockets when presented at the mout-hs of the units and be transferred into the pockets and into the vertical slots of the unit as 'the bands move downwardly or the spindles of a slat may be'transferred from their vertical path established by the Verticalslots outwardly and upwardly through'the mouths of the units as the bands' are raised.

In practice, I provide a magazine for the slats which includes a pair of channels to-support the extremities of the spindles of each slat and 'the channels extend downwardly and outwardly to enterthe'mouths of the units and to intersect the path of the spindles at the junction of the vertical and downwardly and inwardly 'inclined 'slots of the housing units so that as the bands move downwardly, ;slats move downwardly *zunder the influence dfigravitywith eachzentering a pair of pockts whenexposed at themouths of the units and beingtransferre'drinto the-'vertical 'slots'to completethe blind. 'As the 'transverse member is raised, the .spindlesof'the 'slats are successively 'engaged by'theextremities of* the channels and aretransferred into :the magazine.

The slats may be locked thereinand the-magazine de'tached fromthe casinga'when the slatsare to beremoved 'for cleansing orfiother service.

ltalso provide means 1toti'1tthe slats from a ,normal 'position tandtoitaccomplish this result, I :employ :a third :spring wound'band having a *plurality of'spaced'pockets opening towards the mouth of theunitin which `it is housed. This bandgwhile'movable .with'the otherr'bands; is also movable relative thereto between ?a 'first position 'in=which'each ofthe pockets is spaced slightly above a :pair of .pockets of' the :other :bands and asecondposition in' which 'each of its' po'ckets is -spacedslightly below: such 'a'pair of pockets. I provide one spindle :of each ?slat with a crank portion disposed to 'enter' the'pocket adjacentthe tilting band whereby 'that 'slat is ti'lted in one direction when' the' tilting'band is' in' its first position andin theopposite direction 'when the tiltingband is in' its second position. When 'any one slat* is manuallytilted from 'one direction' towards the other position, its icrank portion 'actuates the ,tilting :band `to :cause i'a i corresponding` tilting of ;the otherslats.

fByzthiS construction, `I-` am thus able to :provide Venetian `b1inds ;in `which 'exposed: slat carrying tapes:are eliminatediin which theslats'are compactly storedina magazinewhen the blindis raised andin which they are ,fed therefrom and .connected -to the 'bands in properly 'spaced *relation :when .the 'blind is 'lowered thereby to com- ;bine attractiveness of appearance with maximum *convenience both in use and'in service.

In' the drawings, `I have shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention :from which its many tnovel :features -and advantages 'will be readily-*apparent In :the drawing's:

Fig.' 1"is a front'view of a window, as 'viewed 'from :the inside, equipped with-a 'Venetian blind insaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is :a section, on "an enlarged: scale, along thelinesr2--2 of Fig. 1.

`Fig. 3 isa perspective view o ione of theslats.

.Fig. 4 is a frontview, on'an enlarged sca1e,'of the .blind .of Fig. ;1 withthe magazine removed.

Fig. 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale-.along the;1'ines:-5- 5'o`Fig..4. g

Fig. 6 is a section, similar to Fig. 2, along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing many of the parts of Fig. 6 in perspective.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View showing in front view the spring means holding the slats in their tilted position.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the means ensuring the maintenance of the slats in a horizontal position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the interior of the magazine.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the housing for the slat carrying bands with its cover removed.

Fig. 12 is a section along the lines l2-l2 of Fig. 11 with the cover attached.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 12 but showing a modification thereof, and t Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the housing for the tilting band.

As illustrative of ta window with which a Venetian blind in accordance with my invention is used, I have generally indicated a window casing at !5. Supported adjacent the upper part thereof and interiorly of the window, not shown, is a transverse mount IE which mayor 'may not be a part of the window casing structure, but is here shown as a separate element.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I have shown housing units l'l and [8 Secured to the sides of the window casing !5. The units I l and [8 have, respectively, transversely alined vertical Slots !9 and 28 in their adjacent faces, transversely alined mouths 2! and 22 in their exposed or inner faces (see Fig. 4) and transversel-y alineddownwardly and inwardly inclined slots 23 (see Figs. 2 and 6), each of which efiects communication between the mouth of a housing unit and its vertical slot.

While the housing units may be otherwise formed, theconstruction detailed in the drawings has proved satisfactory. Except for its upper portion generally indicated at 24 and its cross sectional area, the housing unit il is substantially the same in Construction as the housing unit' !8. As may be most clearly seen in Fig. 5, each housing unit consists of a hacking strip 25 anchored to the sides of the window casing by screws 26 extending through the outwardly disposed fianges 21 of the side members 28 which include inturned anges 29 spaced from each other to 'provide the vertical slot of that housing unit. Each' hacking strip 25 has a' pair of spaced ribs 30 in parallel with such vertical slots. Secured to each of the side members 28 adjacent its fiange 29 is a vertically disposed spacer El. While the mouth 22 and the downwardly and inwardly inclined slot 23 of the housing unit a are formed in its side member 28 and inner flange 29, respectively, the housing unit I 'I includes the upper portion 24 which may be most clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7. It consists of a backing strip 32 and a side member 33 having an outwardly disposed attaching flange 34 and an oppositely bent end 35. The upper portion 24 is spaced from the upper end of the main part of the housing unit L-'i to provide the mouth ZI and the adjacent edges of the end 35 and the innermost of the fianges 29 are spaced from each other and shaped to provide the downwardly and inwardly inclined slot 23 of the housing unit l'i. Within theupper portion 24, I mount a pair of spacer blocks 35 which are spaced from each other and the end 35 of the side member 33.

As is most clearly shown in I attach to the mouth !6 a casing 31 housing a spring wound drum for the flexible bands 38 and 39 which are preferably of metal. The band 38 is trained through a guide bearing do and enters the upper portion 24 of the housing unit H in the space between one of the spacer blocks 36 and the end wall 35 and extends downwardly into the main part of the housing ll, being there conned between the spacers 3! and the flanges 29 in parallel with the sides of the window casing [5. The band 39 is trained over a pulley 4! and enters the upper end of the housing |8 between its fianges 29 and its ribs 30 and in parallel with the sides of the window casing l5. i

The corresponding edge of each of the, bands '38 and 39 is formed with a plurality of spaced pockets &2 opening towards the mouths of the housing units and dimensioned so that their closed ends register with the vertical slots of the housing units. The lower corner established by each pocket 42 is rounded. The ends of the bands 38 and 39 are connected to a cross member 63 with each pocket ,42 of one band transversely alined with a pocket 42 of the other band.

The cross member 43, as may be most clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 9, consists of a main portion t, the length of which, is substantially equal to the distancebetween the ,housing units l'i and IS and extensions 45 and AS dimensioned to enter the slots of the housing units. The extensions 45 and Mi terminate'in clamps M and 48 respectively, and the ends of the bands are apertured as at :ia (see Fig. 9) to receive the extensions thereby to be detachably connected thereto.

Bythis construction, the bands are wound ou. the' drum or unwound therefrom by raising or lowering the cross member 43 and to ensure that the cross member 43, should it be gripped adjacent one housing unit to raise or lower it, is positively maintained in a horizontal position, I have provided means to equalize its travel.

As may be most clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 9, I have shown a threaded spool 55 rotatably supported on the mount IS; Adjacent the upper end of each of th housing units ll and I 8 is a pair of axially alined pulleys 51 and 52, and within each housing unit and adjacent its lower end, is a pulley 53, preferably located below the lower extremity of the rib 30 adjacent the concealed or outer face of the housing units. An endless cable, generally indicated at `54, is trained over the pulleys 53 to establish' reversed loop ends 55 and 55 (see Fig. 9) which establis'h strands 51 and 58. The strand 51 is trained over the pulley 5l of one pair and the pulley iz of the other pair and the strand 58 is trained over the other pulley of each pair and has a turn about the spool' 50. The clamps 41 and 48 secure the cross member 43 to the strand 51 in the loop 55 and to the strand 58 inthe loop 56. By this Construction, the transversely alined portions of the cable 54 travel in the same direction when the cross member 43 is raised or lowered and the bands 38 and 39 are moved uniformly so that they present, successively, transversely alined pairs of pockets 42 accessible through the mouths 2! and 22 of the housing units I? and I8.

At 59, I have generally indicated slats, each of which includes axially alined spindles 60 and Gi. The length of the slats is substantially equal to the distance between the housing units l'l and s. In practice, the slats 59 consist of a center part 62 and a pair of ends 63 and 64 slidably supported thereon so that the slats may be eXtended or shortened depending on the width ofthe particu- .7 gages the spindle 60 in the zone of its crank portion 61 to function as a brake.

,In Fig. 11, I have shown the housing 31 for the carrying bands 38 and 39 with its cover 8| removed and in Fig. 12 I have shown a section through the housing with the cover si attached.

From Figs. 11 and 12, it will be noted that the housin 31 has a rotatable shaft 82 on which is mounted a drum 83 rotatable independently of the shaft having a chamber in each of its ends for the coiled springs 84 and 85 which are coiled in the same direction and have their inner ends secured to the shaft 82. The outer end of the spring 85 is anchored to the drum 83 to be tightened or'released by rotating the drum 83, in one direction or the other and the other end of the spring 84 is secured to the cover 8! so that it may also be tightened by turning the cover as required to balance the weight of the slats 59. The bands 38 and 39 are intercoiled around the drum 83 with their inner ends suitably secured thereto. I provide the housing 31 with a separate port for each of the bands 38 and 39 with each port having a lip 81 to ensure that the bands do not catch as they enter or leave the housing 37.

Where relatively high windows are to be equipped with venetian blinds in aecordance with my invention, I may use the spring woun'd drum shownin Fig. 13, the housing 83 of which is generally similar to the housing 31. The housing 88 has a shaft 89 on which the drum 90 is mounted for rotation independently thereof. The drum 90 has a chamber accessible where the cover 9| is removed and to the shaft I mount a freely rotatable spacer 92 on opposite sides of which are collars 93 and 99 which are alsoifree on the shaft 89.

Within` the annular recess, I mount four springs 95, 96, 91, and 98, with the springs 95 and 98 being coiled in a direction opposite to the springs 96 and 91. The spring 95 has its outer end secured to the drum 90 and its inner end attached to the collar 93 to which the inner end of the spring 96 is also connected. The outer end of the spring 96 is connected to the spacer 93 to the other side of which is secured the outer end of the spring 91. The inner ends of the springs 91 and 98 are interconnected by the collar 94 and the outer end of the spring 98 is anchored to the cover 9I.

'By this Construction, I am thus able to provide aspring that is relatively long for the diameter of the' drum and at the same time enable a predetermined tension to be established by turning the cover 9! before attaching it to the housing 88. It will be apparent that the springs 84 and 85 of Figs. 11 and 12 may each be made in two sections if desired.

In Fig. 14, I have shown the housing TB for the tilting band l'l. This housing is similar to the housing 36 and in it I mount a drum 99 whichis substantially identical to the drum 83 and is free to rotate on the shaft !90. Within the drum chambers, I mount springs Hil and 192 which are coiled oppositely to each other to ensure the proper operation of the tilting band 11. The inner ends of the springs o and !92 are anchored to-the shaft Hil and their outer ends are connected respectively to the drum 99 and to the removable housing cover !93.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that venetian blinds in accordance with my invention combine ease of operation with improved appear- .ance and increased eonvenience both in use and in operation.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A venetian blind to be secured to a window casing, said blind comprising a pair of members mounted adjacent the sides of the window casing for vertical movement, said members having a plurality of pockets opening in the same direction transversely of the direction of travel of the members, a plurality of slats each of which is dimensioned to fit between said members and includes spindles to enter and be supported by a pair of pockets, means adjacent the upper part of said casing to transfer the spindle of each slat into or out of a pair of pockets as said members are raised or lowered in predetermined relation to said means, and guide means slidably guiding said spindles when seated in said pockets below said transfer means said transfer means intersecting the path of said guided spindles.

2. A venetian blind to be secured to a window casing, said blind comprising a pair of members mounted adjacent the sides of the window casing for vertical movement, said members having a plurality of transversely alined pairs of pockets opening in the same direction transversely of the direction of travel of the members, a plurality of slats each of which is dimensioned to fit between said members and includes axially alined spindles to enter and be supported by a pair of pockets, guide means slidably guiding said spindles along a vertical path when supported by said pockets and a detachable magazine for said slats, said magazine including a pair of channel members disposed to receive the extremities'of the spindles of the slats and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom to intersect the path of such extremities at the upper end of said guide means thereby to transfer the spindles of each slat out of and into said magazine and into or out of a pair of pockets as said members are lowered or raised.

3. A venetian blind to be secured to a window casing, said blind comprising a pair of members mounted adjacent the sides of the window casing for vertical movement, a third vertically movable member transversely alined with said pair of members and located adjacent one of them, said members having a plurality of pockets opening in the same direction transversely of the direction of their travel, said pair of members having their pockets disposed as transversely alined pairs and said third member having each of its pockets spaced vertically from each transversely alined pair of pockets, a plurality of slats each of which is dimensioned to fit between said pair of members and includes axially alined spindles to enter and be rotatably supported by a pair of pockets, one spindle of each slat having a bend establishing a crank extending through the adjacent pocket of said third member so that as any slat is tilted said third member is moved to effect a like tilting of the other slats while connecting said third member for vertical movement with saidypair of members, means adjacent the upper part of said casing to transfer the spindles of each slat into or out of its supporting pockets-as said members are raised orlowered in predetermined relation to said means, and guide means slidably guiding said spindles when seated in said pockets below said transfer means.

4. A venetian blind to be secured to a window or like casing, said blind comprising a pair of vertical housing units adjacent to and in parallel with the sides of said casing, said, units having 'transversely alined mouths in their exposed faces,

transversely alined* vertical 'slots in' their opposed faces, and transversely alined; downwar'dly and:

inwardly inclined` slots effecting' communication between said mouths and said vertical slots', a'

spring wound band extendin'g* downwardly into each unit in parallel with said opposed faces, each of said bands having a plurality of spaced poekets disposed towards the' mouth of its* housing' and intersecting its vertical slot, a transverse member slidably guided by said vertical slots and interconnecting said bands with each pocket of one band 'being transversely alinedwith a pocketof the'other band; and' a plurality o'f: slats, each: of said slats 'being 'of' a length" to :fit between-;said units: and' including` alined-'spindles to bef supported byf saidpockets* and'slidably guided' by said' vertical slots; a 'maga'zine' for" said slots,` `said magazine 'including a;` pair of" downwardly dis."- posed channel to' receive'the extremities' ofIth'e spindles of each slat and-of'suicient lengthito extend into said'mouthsin transverse alinement with said inclined slots, said' cha'nnels terminatir'g in' a guide tip'intersecting the Verticalpath of spindles thereby to *cam them into' said channels and out of said pockets as said transverse member is raised.

5. A Venetian blind to be secured to a window or like casing, said blind comprising a pair of housing units to be secured to the sides of said casing, said units having transversely alined mouths in their exposed faces, transversely alined vertical slots in their opposed faces, and trans- Versely alined downwardly and inwardly inclined slots effecting communication between said mouths and said vertical slots, a spring wound band extending downwardly into each unit in parallel with said opposed faces, each of said bands having a plurality of spaced pockets disposed towards the mouth of its housing and intersecting its vertical slot, a transverse member slidably guided by said vertical slots and interconnecting said bands with each pocket of one band being transversely alined with a pocket of the other band, and a plurality of slats, each of said slats being of a length to fit between said units and including alined spindles to be supported by said pockets and slidably guided by said vertical slots, said spindles being transferable between said mouths and said vertical slots along said inclined slots when said transverse member is lowered or raised to bring a pocket downwardly past each mouth or upwardly past the lower extremity of each inclined slot.

6. The Venetian blind of claim 5 and endless cable means interconnecting the ends of the transverse member to ensure the equal movement of the bands.

7. A Venetian blind to be secured to a window or like casing, said blind comprising a pair of vertical housing units adjacent to and in parallel with the sides of said casing, said units having transversely alined mouths in their exposed faces, transversely alined vertical slots, in their opposed faces, and transversely alined, downwardly and inwardly inclined slots eifecting communication between said mouths and said vertical slots, a spring wound band extending downwardly into each unit in parallel with said opposed faces, each of said bands having a plurality of spaced pockets disposed towards the mouth of its housing and intersecting its vertical slot, a transverse member slidably guided by said vertical slots and interconnecting said bands with each pocket of one band being transversely alined with a pocket of the other band, and a plurality of slats, each sai-%ase 'of"`said" slats" being of'. a length' to fit between said? units and* including alined' spindles. to, be: supported" by 'said pockets 'and'slidably guided by" said verticalslots; a magazine `for. 'said' sl'ats; .said" 5 magazine' includin'g' a* pair: o' downwardly` dis.-

V slots 'when said transverse' member isi low'red" Or raised to bring` a pocket downw'ardly'toireceive posed? chami'els't* receive the` 'extremities of the" spindles` of" each slotj. and? of' suific'ient," length to extend'into' said mouths; and means, to' transfer said spindles' 'between Channels; and said-vertical them from said 'Channels or u' w'ardly'to'the-lower` extremity, -of' said' inclined slots;`

8." A Ven'etian blind' to be s'ecured'to' a window" vertical slots in their opposed faces,and transversely*alinedfdownwai dly and inwardly inclined slots effecting' .communicati'on' between said' mouths and said vertical' slots; a' member ex'- tending' downw'ardlyinto' each unit in pa'rallel'` with said opposed' faces, each of said'members having -a plurality of spaced pockets disposed towards the mouth of its housing and intersecting its vertical slot, a transverse member slidably guided by said vertical slots and interconnecting said members with each pocket of 0 one member being transversely alined with a pocket of the other member, and a plurality of slats, each of said slats being of a length to fit between said units and including alined spindles to be supported by said pockets and slidably guided by said vertical slots, and means to transfer said spindles between said mouths and said vertical slots along said inclined slots when said transverse member is lowered or raised to bring a pocket downwardly past each mouth or upwardly past the lower extremity of each inclined slot.

9. A Venetian blind to be Secured to a window or like casing, said blind comprising a pair of vertical housing units adjacent the sides of said casing, said units having transversely alined mouths in their exposed faces, transversely alined Vertical slots in their opposed faces, and transversely alined downwardly and inwardly inclined slots effecting communication between said mouths and said Vertical slots, a spring wound band extending downwardly into each unit in parallel with said opposed faces, a third spring wound band extendng downwardly into one of said units in parallel with the other bands, each 5 of said bands having a plurality of spaced pockets disposed towa-rds the mouth of its housing unit and intersecting -its slot, a transverse m-ember slidably guided by said vertical slots and interconnecting the first named bands to maintain each pocket of one =of them transversely alined with a pocket of the other, means interconnecting said third and other bands so that it m-ay move with them or relative thereto between a first position in which each of its pockets is slightly above a transversely alined pair of pockets and a second position in which each pocket is spaced slightly below such a pair of pockets, a plurality of slats, each of which is of a length to fit between said units and includes alined spindles to be slidably guided by said vertical slots and rotatably supported in a transversely alined pah' of pockets and disposed adjacent one of its edges so that a thus supported sl-at has a position in which it is hei-d by gravity, one spindle of each slat including a oppositely inclined position when said third ban-d is in its first position, the tiltng of any one slat from :one position to the other tilted position causing its crank to move said third band to tilt the other slats correspondingly.

10. The Venetian blind of claim 9 in which the holding means comprises one of the slats 10- cated adjacent the transverse member and spring means carried by the transverse member 12 tending downwardly and outwardly through the mouths to intersect the path of spindles seated in pockets and slidably guided by the vertical slots.

ROBERT H. SWACKI-IAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 105,805 Smith June 25, 1889 749966 Jarrett Jan. 19, 1904 1,013,417 McIntosh Jan. 2, 1912 1,941,880 Earn Jan. 2, 1934 2,100,625 Bradfield Nov. 30, 1937 2,103,271 Pratt' Dec. 28, 1937 2,152,969 Nash Apr. 4, 1939 2,167,840 Hepworth Aug. 1, 1939 2,174,249 Pratt Sept. 26, 1939 2,237,850 Stobie Apr. 8, 1941 2,317,917 Kasan Apr. 27, 1943 2,341,233 Norton Feb. 8, 1944 

